Connecting device for an electrosurgical instrument

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a connecting device for an electrosurgical instrument, which comprises at least one gas supply line and one power supply line. Said connecting device comprises a housing into which passes the gas supply line including the power supply line disposed therein. The connecting device is also provided with a branching device that is located in the housing, and by way of which the power supply line is diverted out of the gas supply line in order to form a gas-connection end piece and a power-connection end piece, and with a plug fixed to the housing in order to make connection to a socket in an appliance or to connecting leads running to the appliance. The gas-connection end piece and the power-connection end piece are coupled to the plug and a filter is disposed within the housing in the gas-connection end piece.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a connecting device for an electrosurgicalinstrument that comprises at least one gas supply line and one powersupply line as well as to an APC instrument in combination with such aconnecting device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrosurgical instruments such as, for example, the APC probes used inendoscopy, frequently comprise a gas conduit through which gas issupplied, and a power supply line that conducts HF electrical current.As a rule, the probes are connected to an electrical appliance thatcontrols the supplies of gas and current, by means of connecting leads.

The patent EP 0447121 A2 discloses a probe connected to such anappliance by connecting devices such that the gas and HF currentconducted to the probe in separate connecting devices are not broughttogether until they are in the vicinity of the front tip of the probe.Therefore, especially when the probe is used in gastroenterology,secretions and fluids from human or animal bodies can enter the gas andpower supply lines during treatment and contaminate them. Thiscontamination occurs not only in the parts of the lines that are insidethe probe but also in those parts connected to the probe. As aconsequence, after such contamination has occurred, both the probe andalso the connecting lines must be replaced.

Although the connecting devices disclosed in EP 0447121 A2 forconnecting the probe to the leads that come from the applianceincorporate a filter, which is intended to provide protection againstsuch contamination, this filter is positioned in such a way that onlythe appliance is protected.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide aconnecting device for an electrosurgical instruments that makes itpossible efficaciously to protect the connecting leads associated withthe instrument, or integrated therein, against contamination bysecretions and fluids from human or animal bodies.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a connecting devicefor an electrosurgical instrument that comprises at least one gas supplyline and one power supply line, comprising a housing out of which passesa gas supply line with a power supply line disposed within the gassupply line; a branching device located in the housing by way of whichthe power supply line is diverted out of the gas supply line in order toform respectively a gas-connection end piece and a power-connection endpiece; a plug to which the gas-connection end piece and thepower-connection end piece are coupled, and which is fastened to thehousing in order to make connection with a socket in an appliance orwith connecting leads; and a filter disposed within the housing in thegas-connection end piece.

The object of the invention is achieved by disposition of the filterwithin the housing in the gas-connection end piece. The placement of thefilter immediately behind the surgical instrument, which for example canbe constructed as a probe or pencil, prevents secretions and fluids frompenetrating into the connecting lines and/or the appliance, so that itis unnecessary to exchange the connecting leads after the operation hasbeen completed.

It is advantageous for the branching device to comprise a first apertureinto which the gas supply line, together with the power supply linedisposed therein, can be inserted like a plug, as well as a secondaperture into which the filter can be similarly inserted. This enables asimple and rapid exchange, after a preferably predetermined period ofuse, of either the branching device including the filter or the filterby itself. For this exchanging procedure the housing must be opened, therelevant elements removed and their replacements inserted, and thehousing closed gain. Thus the filter can be readily replaced before afilter element contained therein becomes oversaturated.

According to a preferred embodiment the branching device comprises anintegrated cable channel to accommodate the diverted power supply line.The cable channel assists stable positioning of the power supply linewithin the branching device and hence contributes to forming atransition region, i.e. the region in which the power supply linebranches off, that is not vulnerable to damage.

The electrosurgical instrument can be designed for single use, as it canbe rapidly and simply uncoupled from the connecting device, by way of aplug-and-socket arrangement, and a new instrument connected to thedevice.

Preferably the connecting device is used for an APC instrument, whichcan be an APC probe.

The present invention will now be described by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the connecting device in accordance withthe invention, partially opened, in perspective plan view;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged drawing of part of the embodiment of theconnecting device in accordance with the invention shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the underside of the embodiment ofthe connecting device in accordance with the invention shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, an embodiment of the connecting device in accordance with theinvention is shown in perspective. The connecting device 1 comprises ahousing, only part of which is shown here; normally the housingcompletely encloses its contents. The housing 2 can be opened and closedagain by means of a sliding mechanism or flap, in order to provideaccess to the elements contained in the housing 2, in particular afilter.

A probe 3 is attached, preferably releasably, to the housing at one ofits ends. At another end of the housing is disposed a plug arrangement 4designed to be inserted into a socket in an appliance or attached toconnecting leads that run to that appliance.

A gas supply line 5 connected to the probe 3 encloses a power supplyline 6. Both supply lines are connected to a branching device 7 by meansof which the power supply line 6 is guided out of the gas supply line 5to form a power-connection end piece 8 and a gas-connection end piece 9.

Between the gas-connection end piece 9 and the branching device 7 afilter 10 is disposed in such a way that it can be exchanged.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective plan view of part of the connectingdevice shown in FIG. 1. It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the gas supplyline 5 with the power supply line 6 disposed therein is connected to thebranching device 7 by way of an aperture 11 in the branching device,like a plug in a socket. Into a second aperture 12 of the branchingdevice 7 the filter 10 has been inserted.

Having branched away from the gas supply line 5, the power supply line 6is guided within a cable channel 13 disposed in the branching device 7in such a way that it pass around the filter 10 with no furtherguidance, until it reaches the power-connection end piece 8. This makesit possible to exchange the filter 10 situated between the branchingdevice 7 and part of the gas-connection end piece 9, with no need tointerrupt the power supply line 6.

In FIG. 3 the underside of the embodiment of the connecting deviceaccording to FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in perspective. This drawing makesclearer that the filter 10 opens into part of the gas connection endpiece 9, while the power supply line 6 opens into power-connection endpiece 8 on the underside of the housing. Hence the connection end pieces8 and 9 do not impede the process of exchanging the filter 10, inasmuchas the filter 10 is removed and re-inserted from above the housing.

The gas-connection end piece 9 and the power-connection end piece 8 areattached to the plug 4 so that they can be connected to connectingleads.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 Connecting device-   2 Housing-   3 Probe-   4 Plug-   5 Gas supply line-   6 Power supply line-   7 Branching device-   8 Power-connection end piece-   9 Gas-connection end piece-   10 Filter-   11 First aperture-   12 Second aperture-   13 Cable channel

1. Connecting device for an electrosurgical instrument that comprises atleast one gas supply line and one power supply line, comprising: ahousing out of which passes a gas supply line with a power supply linedisposed within the gas supply line; a branching device located in thehousing by way of which the power supply line is diverted out of the gassupply line in order to form respectively a gas-connection end piece anda power-connection end piece; a plug to which the gas-connection endpiece and the power-connection end piece are coupled, an which isfastened to the housing in order to make connection with a socket in anappliance or with connecting leads; and a filter disposed within thehousing in the gas-connection end piece.
 2. Connecting device accordingto claim 1, wherein the filter is exchangeable.
 3. Connecting deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the branching device defines a firstaperture into which the gas supply line with the power supply linedisposed therein is inserted in the manner of a plug into a socket. 4.Connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the branching devicedefines a second aperture into which the filter is inserted in themanner of a plug into a socket.
 5. Connecting device according to claim1, wherein the branching device defines an integrated cable channel toaccommodate the power supply line.
 6. Connecting device according toclaim 1, adapted for connection to a single use electrosurgicalinstrument.
 7. An APC instrument comprising: at least one gas supplyline and one power supply line in combination with a connecting devicecomprising a housing out of which passes the gas supply line with thepower supply line disposed within the gas supply line; a branchingdevice located in the housing by way of which the power supply line isdiverted out of the gas supply line in order to form respectively agas-connection end piece and power-connection end piece; a plug to whichthe gas-connection end piece and the power-connection end piece arecoupled, and which is fastened to the housing in order to makeconnection with connecting leads; and a filter disposed within thehousing in the gas-connection end piece.
 8. An APC instrument accordingto claim 7, in the form of an APC probe.